Lawmakers Want To Block Parking Lot Sale

Some committee members said proper procedure for selling the lot was not followed.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – A committee in the Kansas Legislature is trying to prevent the sale of a parking lot for government workers near the Statehouse.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the Legislature’s Joint Committee on State Building Construction voted Thursday to ask the Department of Administration to reject all bids for the lot. The highest bid was $2.5 million.

Some committee members said the department failed to follow the proper procedure for selling the lot because it didn’t consult the committee, legislative leaders or a state Capitol area planning group before seeking bids.

But interim Administration Secretary Mark McGivern said the state owns “an abundance of parking” in the area. McGivern also says decisions about surplus property do take into account the needs of state workers.